Holding a kingdom in Bannerlord feels a bit like balancing a stack of plates while someone keeps throwing rocks at you. You finally claim a town, feel proud of yourself, then two kingdoms instantly decide you need humbling. If you have ever wondered how to survive those moments without rage quitting or yeeting your mouse across the room, this guide walks you through the essentials.
Strengthening Your Borders
I always check my borders the same way I check the fridge at 2am. I know nothing has changed, but I look anyway. Your border strength basically decides how tempting you look to aggressive neighbours, so make those edges scary.
- Build reserve forces in nearby castles. Even a mid strength garrison stops random lord parties from strolling in like they own the place.
- Upgrade walls whenever possible. High tier walls buy you a surprising amount of time, which is everything in Bannerlord.
- Keep militia training going. Militia might not be flashy, but they slow enemy pushes just enough to let your real army react.
Choosing What to Defend First
Every kingdom develops its precious child. For some it is the capital. For me it is usually that one town with profitable workshops that somehow pays for my terrible financial decisions.
Focus on saving the places that actually matter to your economy or strategic position. If a border castle with nothing but sadness inside comes under attack, sometimes the best move is to let it go and retake it later. Your main towns need to survive, because losing them can send your whole kingdom spiralling into bankruptcy and despair.
Using Your Clans Properly
Your clans are not just decoration. They behave like chaotic cousins who show up, attempt to help, then wander off. You can shape that chaos.
- Assign defensive roles. Put some clans in charge of patrolling dangerous frontiers.
- Give them fiefs in areas you need secured. They protect what they own, even if only out of ego.
- Support weaker clans so they do not keep losing armies and morale at the worst times.
A well managed clan network feels like having a squad of useful NPCs instead of a travelling circus.
Build Elite Reaction Forces
Nothing terrifies an invading army more than you appearing over a hill with a full stack of high tier troops. Keep a core army that is always ready to move. Do not stuff them into a garrison. Keep them with you or close by.
I usually run a fast cavalry heavy group that can sprint across the map to smack invaders before they start sieges. It is satisfying and stops wars from turning into long slogs.
Time Your Diplomacy
Diplomacy in Bannerlord likes to make you suffer, but you can manipulate it. If you are already in one war, avoid declaring another unless you enjoy stress. You can push for peace by:
- Winning battles consistently
- Destroying enemy armies so they lose confidence
- Throwing money at settlements to stabilise them and reduce war exhaustion
Sometimes paying for peace is cheaper than losing a tier five town. I hate it every time, but it is true.
Use Your Spies and Scouts
Scouting actually matters. Seeing enemy armies early means you can intercept them and end the threat before it blossoms into a siege that ruins your afternoon.
Send companions with scouting skills to patrol or serve as party leaders. They will shout when danger approaches, which feels like getting a notification that your ex is nearby so you can escape.
Managing Sieges Like a Rational Human
Sieges feel dramatic, but half the time the smartest move is to hit the attacking army before they finish building their siege engines. If they do set up, reinforce your garrison by sneaking into the town with your troops.
If the siege starts looking grim, you can even sally out and disrupt their equipment. Watching an enemy trebuchet explode because you poked it with a stick is peak Bannerlord joy.
Keep Your Economy Alive
Your kingdom cannot defend itself if it is broke. Protect caravans, upgrade workshops, and make sure the towns feeding your war machine stay happy. Prosperity actually helps defence because it raises militia numbers and tax income.
Basically, wage war responsibly or you will end up begging your vassals for pocket money.
Final Thoughts
Defending a kingdom in Bannerlord is stressful in a weirdly enjoyable way. You jump between fights, patch holes in your borders, and somehow convince your clans to act like a coherent military force. Once you get the rhythm, those massive invasions turn from panic moments into opportunities to flex your army building skills.
If all else fails, just remember to save often and pretend every defeat was part of a master plan.
